Loading apparatus



Dec. 15, 1925- 1,565,811

J. w. MORRISON LOADING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 4, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet l aw;M. mm cw 4! IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 1 I v a.

J. W. MORRISON LGADING APPARATUS Dec. 15, 1925. 1,565,811

Filed Aug. 4, 1919 2 Shets-Sheet 2 WWW/WW7 5/ Patented Dec. 15, 1925.

UNITED STATES; PATENT OFFICE.

JOE woon Monmson, or AK on, oHio, assronon TO. SULLIVAN MACHINERY COM-PANY, A conPona'rroN on MASSACHUSETTS.

LOADING APEARAIUS.

Applicati on'filed August 4, 1919'. Serial No. 315,313.

To ail tc/zomit may ("OTZCQWWJ Be it known that I, Jon VVoon MORRISON, acitizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summitand State 5 of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Loading Apparatus, of

which the following is a full, clear, and.

exact specification.

This invention relates to loading appa- Ja ratus, andmore especially tomeans for loading material onto a car from a low vein in a coal mine.

I-Ieretofore it has been proposed to load free coal from a vein whichistoolow to 3 permit the use of a track-mounted loading mechanism byrunning a scraper over a predetermined path, the scraper, during a partof its movement, coming in contact with the imateria l to be loaded,and'in another part of its movement carrying this material into a minecar. The means heretofore proposed had serious limitations in that itrequired practically as many men to operate the loading apparatus as toshovel material directly. into a car, and in that, unless'labor and timeconsuming readjustments of the apparatus were made, the scraper wasmoved over a straight path through the material to be loaded, with theresult that, after the scraper was filled with loose material, as coal,needless energy was wasted in continuing the movement of the scraperthrough the coal, and the coal was scattered about the mine lloor,necessitating a separate operation of 2573 shoveling the coal back intothe path of the scraper.

The present invention has for its object to provide an improved loadingapparatus which overcomes the defects pointed out ea above, whichrequires aminimum amount of manual labor for its operation, which may beeasily controlled to cause the scraper to follow any suitable pathaccording to circun'ista-nces, which is capable of handling material ofany size, and whose capacity is relatively great in proportion to thatof similar apparatus heretofore employed. These and other objects andadvantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fullyappear.

The accompanying drawings show certain forms of the invention andvarious ways in which it may be used, it being understood thattheparticular constructions and arrangements shown have been chosen forillustrative purposes merely, and that the invention, as defined by theclaims hereunto appended, may be otherwise practiced without departingfrom the spiritand scope thereof. i

In these drawings,-

Figs. 1, 2, and 3 are diagrammatic views showing different stages ofloading coal from a room, the loading apparatus being shown insuccessive positions in the different figures.

Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are diagrammatic views similar to Figs. 1, 2, and 3,but illustrating a different method of using the apparatus.

Figs. 7 and 8 are enlargedperspective and plan views, respectively, ofthe scraping unit.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the scraper, showing modified meansforconnecting the same with its operating cable. I

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view of a preferred form of guide block.

Figs. 11 and 12 are diagrammatic views illustrating a modified form ofapparatus.

Figs. 13. and 14 are similar views showin a. further modification.

Fig. 15 is a detail elevation of alternative means for supporting theguide blocks shown in Figs. 13 and 14.

The drawings show a mine room bounded by side walls 2 and. face 3 whichis being worked, entrance to the room being had through a roomfneck 4,as is usual in room and pillar work. Suitable means are also providedwithin the room to support the roof, which means may be of any wellknown form. Thus, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, l3, and 14, pillars 5,formed of the material being mined, are left; as shown in F'gs. 1, 5,and 6 a crib 5 is provided; while as shown in Figs. 11 and 12 the usualmine timbers 5 are employed. It will be understoodthat, as the face 3 isadvanced, more supports will be left or built.

The material which has been loosened from. the face 3 must be removedthrough the room neck 4, and for this purpose there is, as shown inFigs. 1, 2, and 3, provided a scraper 6 to the forward end of which isattached. a cable or drag line 7 for pulling the scraper across. theface 3 and out the room neck, a. return or outhaul cable S be ingprovided? to return the scraper to the working end of the room. Thecable 8 is passed aroui'id a guide p lley 9 at one end llii) til) of theface 3, this cable being held free from the pillar and the walls of theroom by pulleys disposed at any suitable and convenient points. Thecable 7 is passed around a single snatch block 11 located near the endof the face opposite the pulley 9, but whose position relative to saidface and to the adjacent side wall of the room may be varied by suitablemeans, such as a chain 12 attached to a hook 13, the latter preferablybeing fastened to the side wall above the level of the material to bescraped.

In the operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the cable 8 isoperated, preferably from outside the room, by suitable winding means(which, being well known in the art, are not shown herein) to pull thescraper to the position shown in Fig. 1. The cable 7 is then operated topull the scraper G into the loose coal, or other material to be loaded,until said scraper is filled with coal as shown in Fig. To obviate ll enecessity of pulling the scraper further through the loose coal, theposition of the snatch block 11 is changed by engaging the chain 12 withthe hook 13 at a different point, as shown in Fig. 2, permitting thescraper to swing free from the loose material, as shown in dotted linesin Fig. 2, and the czble 7 operated to d 'aw the scraper up to thesnatch block. The snatch block is then changed from the front end of thescraper to the rear end thereof, and engaged with the cable 8, as shownin Fig. 3, so that the scraper with its load may be pulled by the cable7 out of the room neck to carry the load of loose material to the minecar. During the return movement of the scraper, the chain 12 ispreferably left in the position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the snatchblock being transferred back to the front end of the scraper as thelatter passes said snatch block, so that the scraper will pass along oneside of the loose material. and one will not have to be wasted inpulling the scraper through the loose material, and said n'iaterial willnot be scat tercd about the mine floor.

In Figs. l, 5, and 6 is illustrated a different method of operating thescraper, in accordance with which two hooks 14- and are need to hold thechain and the snatch block in different operative positions. The book 15is preferably made large enough to receive the. whole chain, so thatdifficulty will not be experienced and time lost in slipping one of thelinks of the chain over the free end of the look. The operation of thescraping mechanism illustrated in these figures is substantially thesame as that first described, with the exception that when it is desiredto change the. position of the snatch block to free the scraper filledwith coal from the loose coal, it is only necessary to lift the chainfree from the hook 15 to permit the latter to swing about the hook orsupport 14, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and (3. The latter form ispreferable where a large quantity of loosened material has accumulatedat the face 3, and it is necessary to move the scraper a considerabledistance to free it from this material. As will be obvious, this may beaccomplished by the use of a chain which is not substantially longerthan the chain shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

It should be noted that in the improved loading apparatus illustrated inFigs. 1 to 6, inclusive, it is not necessary to provide a large guidingmember to keep the scraper from striking the pillar, especially duringthe return movement. It should also be noted that during these loadingoperations, and during the return movement. of the scraper to theposition shown in Figs. 1 and 4:, the scraper does not scatter the coalabout the mine floor as is common in devices heretofore used, and thatneedless energy is not lost, either in pulling the loaded scraper to themine car, or in returning the scraper to its loading position. It shouldfurther be noted that no shoveling is necessary in order to clean up themine floor, as the scraper may be reciprocated across the face 3 alongdifferent paths to gather the loose material by varying the position ofthe chain on the hook or hooks.

The improved form of scraper G illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 ispreferably employed in the apparatus above described. This scraper, asis usual in scraping devices, is V-shaped, with the cable 8 attached tothe angle of the V and the cable 7 attached to the two free ends of thescraper by a yoke composed of flexible elements or lines 7, which maycomprise integral parts of the cable 7. In this improved form, theelements 7 of the cable are preferably passed freely through guidingmembers or eyes 16 and passed rearwardly along the sides of the scraper,the ends of the yoke elements 7 being fastened by books 17 each engagingone of a series of spaced holes 18, herein shown as formed in areenforcing flange 19 at the upper edge of the scraper.

During the normal operation of the scraper, the hooks 17 will preferablybe fastened near the angle of the scraper, as shown in Fig. 7, so as tobring the cable T as near the scraper as possible. However, when it isnecessary to remove a large lump of coal or other material, the members7 of the yoke are paid out through the eyes 16 until the yoke elementsencircle the lump, and the hooks 19 are again attached to the scraper atpoints nearer the forward open end thereof, as shown in Fig. 8. Thisconstruction obviates the necessity of swinging a heavy sledge to breakup a large lump in a very low vein. whew the. men have to work on theirknees, as is now the common practice. These hnnps' are often so largethat, even the largest scrapers used will not remove them from the room-This'construo lion makes it possible to remove the lumps from the minewhere they can then be broken up by coal crushers, and to, do the workmore economically than can a miner, especially when the miner has towork in a vein. some times only 18 or 20 inches thick.

In order to. avoid the necessity of shifting the snatch block from thefront to the rear of the scraper, and vice versa, when said scraperpasses said block, the drag and outhaul lines may be replaced by asingle cable or drag line which is connected with the scraper by asmaller cable or line, and the snatch block may be replaccdby a block orsheave of such construction as to guide the main cable while permittinthe passage of the line from said main cab, e tothe, scraper. Thus, asshown in Fig. 9, a cable is substituted for the cable 7and 8 of theapparatus first described, said cable being connected with the yokelines. 'Z by a smaller line 26. spliced or otherwiseconnected thereto.Cooperating with the cable 25: is a block or sheave having separatedportions adapted to guide said cable but to permit the passage betweenthem of the line 26. Thus, as shown in Fig. 10,, said guideblock maycomprise a pulley formed in two axially alined but separated sections27, supported respec: tively by the arms of a U-shaped holder 28, thelatter having a reenforcing flange 9-9 to hold the members 27 properlyspaced, said flange having an opening 30 for the attachment of a chain,cable, or other means Qr supporting said block. The main cable 25 passesover and isguided by the pulley sections 27, while the line 26 is. freeto pass between them.

In the form of theinvention illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, means areprovided for facilitating the shifting of the movable guide member orblock, said means comprising a single fixed sheave 31 supported by themine wall, preferably near the roof, and a line or cable 32 which passesabout said sheave and carries at one end the guide block 33, which maypreferably boot the form shown in Fig. 10. The op osit-e end of the lineor cable 32 is; connected to a winding drum 35 of any suitable or wellknown type having a controlling lever 36, and a. brake lever 37. Bysuitable iperation of the vleversfiifi and 37 the drum 35 may beoperated to draw thegu d block 33 intothe p sition shown in Fig.1} or"to permitthe te s oa n themain ca le- 25. to move said block into theposition shown in F ig; .12.;Theoperationiof this form of theinveationwill, itis thonghu-be, otherwise fully understood from the forege inndescription of that shown in Figs-d It is .to be noted that wherepowermeans is used in connectionwith paying out and polling in controlline 32' it would be posible to place the winding mechanism 35. at anylocation desired. It is to be noted that the single flexible controlmember 32, w-hibh cooperates with the drum35 to move the single sheave33, constiti ites the sole means, aside of course trom. the dragline,for controlling the path of movement of the scraper along the face 3during loading as indicated in Figs. 11 and 1:2, and that this means byitself is equallyel'ficient in controlling the return path of thescraper along the face after the same has been returned substantiallyadjacent thereto after the unloading operation. It will thus be seenthat the member 32 and its asseciated elements are able to eftect twodistinct operatTdnsof the scraper without the aid of any additionalcontrol tines such as have always been deemed necessary in a type ofloader mechanism similar to the applicants. It will be seen, by makingthe member 32 solely perform the control of the return and forward pathof the scraper along the face, that the number of lines in the mine roomare re duced to a minimum, it being obvious that, where a large numberof: lines are running along the mine floor, danger to the workmen andcostv of maintenance is very mate riall-y increased, which features mineoperatorsare constantly striving to reduce.

In order to avoid the loss of time incidein tal to the return of theempty scraper to the mine face after delivering'itsload to the mine car,the arrangement shown in Figs. 13 and 14 may be employed, In thisarangement the ma n. cable or d g line 25 is provided, at opposite sidesof the pulley 9, with two scrapers 6., 6 located at such; a distanceapart that when one of said scrapers is in the position to deliver itsload to a mine car 38,, the other of said scrapers will; be in theposition to receive its lead at the end of the mine face, so that as oneof said scrapers is conveying its. load to the car, the other scraperwill be sinmltaneously returned to the mine face, thereby doubling theefficiency ofthe apparatus. In order properly to control the movementsof both of said scrapers, the portions of the cable 25 to which saidscrapers are connected are guided, respectively, by blocks 33- and 33corresponding to the block 3.3 shown in 11 and 12, said blocks 33. and33 being car riefil and; suitably spaced by a rigid bar 39 connected atits opposite ends by lines 407' and 40" with the cable or line 32, theline 40 being shorter than the line 40" so as to mainain the b r-39 inproper position and cause the block3-3 to be conveniently lifted overthe loose material at the-mine face when the blocks are moved from theposition shown Fig. 13 into thatshow-n in Fig. 1.4.

In a mine whose roof is sufficiently strong for the purpose, the bar 39may, as shown in Fig. 15, be suspended from wheels or rollers 41arranged to run upon a track lQsupported by said roof, thereby holdingthe blocks 33 and 33" at an elevation which will permit their beingreadily moved into either of their operative positions withoutinterference with the loose material at the mine face.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a drag line scraper apparatus for use in removing material from aface extending in a direction transverse to the path of a scraper duringits movement when loaded to a point of discharge, a scraper, flexiblemeans for operating the same, guiding means for said operating meansadjacent the end of the face remote from the point of discharge, aguiding member adjacent the other end of said face, and means includinga flexible member and means for adjusting its free length for supportingsaid guiding member in a plurality of positions to cause said scraper totravel in a plurality of substan tially predetermined paths one of whichis a continuation of the other substantially along the face to allowsaid scraper to recede therefrom when the same is loaded, saidguidingvmember, flexible member and adjusting means thereforconstituting the sole meansfor influencing the path of movement of saidscraper while the latter is being moved in either direction along theface by said flexible means.

2. Ina drag line scraper apparatus for use in removing material from aface extending in a direction transverse to the path of a scraper duringits movement when loaded to a point of discharge, ascraper, flexiblemeans for operating the same, guiding means for said operating meansadjacent the end of the face remote from the point of discharge, a blockadjacent the other end of said face, and means including an extensibleflexible connection between said block and a fixed point and means forvarying the length of said connection for supporting said block in aplurality of positions differing both in distance from the face and inposition transversely thereof, said block, flexible connection, andmeans for varying the latter constituting the sole means for influencingthe return path of said scraper along the face by said flexible meansand its associated elements after being unloaded and returnedsubstantially adjacent said face.

3. In a loading apparatus, in combination, a plurality of scrapers, adrag line to which said scrapers are secured, a plurality of guideblocks for said drag line, a bar by which said guide blocks are carried,and a line connected with said bar for moving the same.

1-. In a loading apparatus, in combination, a scraper, a drag line, aline connecting said scraper and drag line, and spaced cooperatingpulley forming means for guiding said drag line while permitting freepassage of said connecting line between said cooperating guiding meansand adapted to vary at will and maintain throughout movement of saidline the relative relation between different. portions of said line.

In a loading apparatus, in combination. 'aoer, a drag line, a lineconnecting said scraper and drag line. and a block having separatedportions adapted to guide said drag line but to permit passage betweenthem of said connecting line.

(3. In aloading apparatus, a scraper. a drag line therefor, and meansconnecting said drag line and scraper for 'arying the capacity of saidscraper.

7. In a loading apparatus, a scraper and means for operating saidscraper and for incrcasin the normal capacity thereof.

'8. In a loading apparatus, a scraper for transporting small loosematerial, flexible means for operating said scraper, and meansconnecting said flexible means and scraper for increasing the normalcapacity of the scraper to permit the latter to operate on relativelylarge material to be moved.

' 9. In a loadingapparatus, a scraper for transporting small loosematerial, flexible means for operating said scraper, and means includinga yoke between said flexible means and scraper for increasing the normalcapaeity of the scraper to permit the latter to operate on relativelylarge material to be moved.

10. In a loading apparatus, a scraper, and operating means thereforcomprising a flexible member terminating in a yoke and means fordetachably securing the ends of said yoke to said scraper at differentpoints to vary the relative position of said yoke and scraper toincrease the latters capacity.

ll. A loading apparatus comprising. in combination, a V-shaped scraperha ring guiding means on the opposite sides of the openend thereof. aflexible operating member therefor comprising a yoke the elements ofwhich are guided by said guiding means, and adjustable means forsecuring the ends of said yoke in adjusted position to said scraper.

12. In a loading apparatus, in combination, a plurality of scrapers, adrag line to which said scrapers are spacedly secured. a

block about which. said line passes, guide blocks for the portions ofsaid drag line on opposite sides of said block, a bar by which saidsecond mentioned guide blocks are can ried, and means for supportingsaid bar permitting shifting thereof to cause a variation in the spacingbetween the portions of said line.

13. In a drag line scraper apparatus for use in removing material from aface extending in a direction transverse to the path of the scraperduring its movement when loaded to a point of discharge, a scraper, aflexible drag line for operating the same, guiding means for said dragline adjacent the end of the face remote from the point of discharge, anadjustable guiding member adjacent the other end of said face, saidadjustable member having operative connection with said drag linebetween the loading position of said scraper and the point of dischargeto control movements thereof along said face independently of anylateral pull on the rear end of said scraper, power means for causingopposite movements of said drag line, and means for adjusting saidadjustable guiding m mber by power during move ment of said drag line tocause the scraper to recede from the face when the same is loaded.

14. In a loading apparatus, in combina tion, a scraper, a drag line, aline connecting,

said scraper to said drag line, and means having separated guiding rollsoverlapped by the drag line but permitting passage between said rolls ofsaid connecting line.

15. In a loading apparatus, in combination, a scraper, a drag line, aline connecting said scraper to said drag line, and means havingseparated aligned guiding rolls separated at such a distance as toallowpassage of said connecting line between them but to I support the dragline.

It. In a loadingapparatus, a scraper, means for operating said scraper,and flexible means for varying the capacity thereof.

17. In a loading apparatus, in combination, a scraper, a drag linehaving a forward and rearward portion, and means to adjust said portionsoperative to change their relative positions, said means including onlya single connection to said drag line.

18. In a loading apparatus, in combina tion, a plurality of scrapers, adrag line to which said scrapers are secured having a plurality ofangularly disposed portions, a plurality of adjustable guide blocksadapted to guide said drag line and arranged at the vertices of saidangularly disposed portions, and means for varying the positions of saidblocks to change the angles and to adjust said drag line away from andtowards the work.

19. In a drag line scraper for use in removing material from a faceextending in a direction transverse to the path of a scraper during itsmovement When loaded to a point of discharge, a scraper, flexible meansfor moving the same, guiding means for said moving means adjacent theend of the face remote from the point of discharge, aguide block forguiding said flexible moving means, a flexible member by which saidguide block is carried and constituting the sole flexible member toinfluence the path of travel of said scraper while being moved by saidflexible means, a fixed sheave near the opposite end of the face overwhich said flexible member passes, and power means for pulling saidflexible member about said sheave.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOE WOOD MORRISON.

